CROI 2014: The Cancer Burden in HIV

The Particulars: Patients diagnosed with HIV have an increased cancer risk when compared with the general population, according to prior research. However, the total cancer burden among HIV patients in the United States has yet to be quantified.

Data Breakdown: During 2010, study investigators estimated the total number of incident cancers and the number in excess of what was expected among patients with HIV in the U.S. An estimated 7,764 cancers occurred in patients with HIV, 50.4% of which were in excess of what was expected. Most cancers occurred among men. The largest excess was among patients aged 40 to 49, whereas the largest proportional excess was among those aged 15 to 29.

Take Home Pearls: HIV appears to substantially increase patients’ excess burden of cancer, particularly among men and those younger than 50. Approximately half of cancer cases among patients with HIV appear to be excess cases.